Automatic decline circuit changer



Feb. 13, 1951 c. MOSOVSKY ET AL.

AUTOMATIC DECLINE CIRCUIT CHANGER Filed Sept. 17, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INSULATKO N lN QQLATION' INSULATION y y K 5 www 4' N mov H 50 0 O S 7 EM 0 V M N m a m 1 m Mm C Feb. 13, 1951 c. MOSOVSKY El AL AUTOMATIC DECLINE CIRCUIT CHANGER Filed Sept. 1'7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/fi l? INVENTORS CHARLES MosovsKy (JOSEPH MOSOVSKY Patented Feb. 13, 1951 AUTOMATIC DECLINE CIRCUIT CHANGER Charles Mosovsky and Joseph Mosovsky, New York, N. Y.

Application September 17, 1949, Serial No. 116,314:

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a headlight circuit for motor vehicles and more particularly to an improved switching apparatus for controlling the alternate illumination of the separate filaments of, the conventional headlight lamps.

On present day motor vehicles, it is customary to employ headlight lamps having separate high or bright and low or dim filaments and to have the separate filaments connected in a circuit controlled by a foot operated switch to cause the filaments to alternately light as the switch is successively operated permitting the headlights to be dimmed when approaching an oncoming motor vehicle. It is customary to employ in such circuits fuses which are blown for the purpose of preventing irreparable damage to the lighting circuit by short circuits and unusual surges of line voltage and which require immediate replacement of the fuse when the same has blown opening the circuit to the headlights.

The present invention proposes the construction of a novel foot operated switch for use in connection with a vehicle headlight circuit which will allow the headlight lamps to continue illuminated after the fuse has bown permitting the vehicle to be driven to the nearest service station for purposes of repairing the short circuit and replacing the blown fuse, especially when a replacement fuse is not immediately available at the time the fuse blows.

It is proposed that the switch of the present invention be foot operated, so that when the headlight lamp circuit is closed through the fuse, the switch may be depressed by foot so as to cause the separate headlight lamps to be successively illuminated.

Another object of the present invention proposes constructing the foot operated switch so that it will be rendered inoperative so as to clearly indicate that the fuse has blown and that a replacement is required.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a foot operated switch of the tvpe described for use in the headlight lamp circuit of a motor vehicle which is simple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this discosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in vertical section, the foot operated switch constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is an end elevational View looking from the left-hand side of Fig. 1, having a portion thereof broken away to reveal interior construction.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 3, but illustrating a different position of the parts.

Fig. '7 isv an enlarged partial vertical sectional View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view looking in the direction of the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a partial vertical sectional View looking in the direction of the line 99 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 is a schematic wiring diagram of the device.

The switching apparatus for use in the headlight circuit of a motor vehicle,'according to the present invention, includes a, metallic plate 20 which is to be mounted on the underside of the floor of a motor vehicle, not shown, in close proximity to the drivers seat so that the switching apparatus can be operated by one of the drivers feet. At one point, the plate 28 is formed with a hole 2| in the form of an elongated slotas shown in Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 7. Mounted on the top face of the pate 2G concentric with the hole 2 I, there is a tubular stem 22 secured to the plate 20 by several rivets 23, as shown particularly in Fig. '7. The tubular stem 22 is to be projected upward through the floor board of the motor vehicle and has slidably engaged over the top end thereof a, hollow cap 24. A rod 25 has its top end secured to the cap 26, and intermediate portion extended slidably through the top of the tubuar stem 22 and a bottom portion projected through the hole 2|. The bottom portion of the rod 25 is bifurcated, as shown particularly in Fi s. 3 and '7, and the bottom portion of one of the tines is formed with a right angularly bent end 26, see Figs. 3 and 7, which bears against the bottom face of .the plate 20 limiting outward movement of the rod 25.and the cap 24. 'An expansion spring 21 is positioned within the hollow cap 24 and operates between the top end of the tubular stem 22 and the top wall of the cap 24 retaining the cap 24 and the rod 25 in an extended position in which the right angularly bent end 26 will be in engagement with the bottom face of the plate 20. The right angularly bent end 26 has another purpose in the present construction which will become clear as this specification proceeds. 1

Secured to the bottom face of the plate 28, about the hole 2!, there is a metallic casing 28 preferab y formed of a single sheet of metal. The top of the casing 28 is formed with laterally extended flanges 29 through which rivets 38 are passed for securing the casing 28 in position on the plate 29. The rear side of the casing 28 is closed by a plate 3! of insulation material which has its edges resting on the adjacent edges of the casing 28. The corners of the plate 31 are cut away and lugs 32 project from the; corners of the casing 28 and are bent to project across the back face of the plate 3| to fixedly mount the plate 3i in position.

Upon the plate 3|, there is mounted the heart of the switching apparatus of the present invention. Fixedly mounted on the plate 3| and extended forwardly therefrom, there is a metallic post 33. Mounted on the inner facesof the plate 36 concentric with the post 33, there is an inner contact plate 34 and an outer contact plate 35. The contact plates 3% and 35 are arcuate in con figuration and extend through substantially 210 degrees. Mounted. on the. plate 31 between the ends of the contact plates 3 and 35, there is a spaced pair of contacts and 3E. The. contacts 36 and 31 are of a radial: extent corresponding to the combined radial extent'of the contact plates 3% and 35:. The face of the inner contact plate 35 is formed with ratchet teeth 3 for a purpose which will become clear as thisspecification proceeds.

The outer contact plate 35 is mounted in position by means of a screw 38 which is. engaged through the plate 35 and a threaded shank 33 extended through the plate 3!, see Figs. 2 and 8'. A nut @13 is threadedly engaged on the outer end of the shank 39 by which an electric lead can be connected to the outer contact plate 35. The inner contact plate 34 has a pin 51 projected through the plate 3t and engaged through the inner end of a metallic contact strip 42 which is projected laterally of the rear face of the plate 3t and is provided at its free end with a screw 43 to which an electric lead can be connected for conveying the current to the inner contact plate 34.

As in the case of the inner contact plate 34, each of the contacts 36 and 37 is formed with a pin 54 and 45 which projects through the plate 3!. The outer ends of the pins 44 and 45 are projected through metallic contact strips 4'6 and 41 and milled over, fixedly mounting the contacts 36 and 37 and the contact strips t and 4? in position. The free ends of the contact strips 46 and 41 are projected across the rear face of the plate 31 and are provided with screws 48 and 49 by which electric leads can be connected to the contact strips 46 and 41 to convey electric current to the contacts 36 and 31.

Mounted on the post 33 there is a member which is to be rotated by depressions of the cap 24 and the rod 25. The member is comprised of an inner contact ring 50 and an outer contact ring 5!. The contact rings, 5! and 5! are arranged concentric with the post 33 but do not touch the same. The contact rings 59 and SI are separated by a piece of insulation material 52 and the contact ring 5.! is backed up by a ring of insulation material 53. Mounted on the post 33 forward of the ring of insulation material 53 there is an insulation block 54 against which there is positioneda six pointedstar wheel 55 formed of non-conductive metal. The. inner contact ring 5!], the piece of insulation 52, the outer contact ring 5 l, the insulation ring 53., the block of. insulation 54 and the star wheel 55 are fixedly connected together by means of rivets 56, as shown in Fig. 7. The outer contact ring 5| is formed with enlarged holes through which the rivets 56 pass permitting the parts to be connected together while still leaving the contact rings 50 and 5! electrically spaced.

The inner contact ring 50 is formed of spring metal and has three resilient contacts 5th out therefrom and arranged to make electrical contact with the inner contact plate E i and the contacts S6 or 3? as the ring 55 is rotated. Likewise, the outer contact ring 5| is formed of spring metal and three resilient contacts ti out therefrom and arranged to make electrical contact with the outer contact plate 35 and the contacts 36 or 371 as the ring 5i is rotated. The sets of contacts 56 and til are offset with relation to each other so that when one of the contacts 513 is engaging the contact (it, one of the contacts Eil will be engaged with the contact 3. and vice versa. Furthermore, the contactsffiil of the inner contact 59 will be engaged with the ratchet teeth 3 3 of the inner contact plate as limiting rotation of the member mounted on the post to one direction only.

Resilient means is provided in connection with the member mounted on the post for urging the member in a direction in which the contacts w and 5 l will make good electrical contact with their contact members and still permit th member to move slightly relative to the post 33 so that the contacts W can ride over the ratchet teeth E i without diificulty. That resilient means comprises an expansion spring 5'? concentrically wound on the extended end of the post 33 and operating between the star wheel 55 and a washer 58 for urging the member toward the contact plates 34 and 35 and the contacts 35 and 37. The washer 58 is removably retained in position by means of a removable cotter pin 59.

ihe rod 25 carries means for turning the star wheel 55' through a distance equal to the spacing between adjacent teeth thereof or one-sixth of a revolution to similarly turn the contact rings 53 and 5!. The turning means comprises an operating arm 583 having its upper end pivotally supported in the upper end of the bifurcated portion of the rod 25 by means of a pivot pin 51. The free bottom end of the operating arm 59 depends through the hcle H and is provided with a laterally extending pin 62 arranged to get behind one of the teeth of the star wheel 55 for turning the star wheel 55 through one-sixth of a turn each time the cap 25 and the rod 25 is depressed.

As the star wheel 55 turns, the operating arm 59 will pivot relative to the rod 25 and a resilient means is provided for returning the operating rod St) to its starting position when the cap 2:3 and the rod 25 are again raised by the spring 21. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the operating arm Si! is slightly L-shaped and a projection 63 extends from the junction of. the arms of the L.-shaped operating arm 66 and between the adjacent faces of the tines of the bifurcated end of the rod 25. A leaf spring 64 is fixedly attached at one end to the side of the rod 25 and has its free end engaging the free end of th projection 53. The leaf spring fie acts to retain the operating arm 60 in the. normal position with relation to the rod 25, as shown in Fig. 1. Due to the action of the leaf spring 55, the laterally extending pin 62 will have a slight drag on the surface of the tooth of the star wheel 55. as the cap 24 and the rod 25 are returned to their starting position by the spring 2?; however, that drag will be incapable of turning the star wheel 55 in the reverse direction due to the action of the contacts 50 of the inner contact ring 56 in engaging the ratchet teeth 34 of the inner contact plate 3 5.

The headlight circuit of the motor vehicle as shown in Fig. 10, includes a pair of head lamps B5 and 65 each including a high filament 65 and [:36 and a low filament 65 and 66 The circuit further includes the usual battery 61 having one terminal grounded by a lead 68. The other side of the battery 6'! is connected to one side of a fuse 69 by a lead Hi. The other side of the fuse BS is connected by a lead H to one side of the usual manually operable switch 12 mounted on the dash board of the motor vehicle. The other side of the switch 12 is connected to the inner contact plate 34 by means of a lead 73. A lead M extends from the contact 36 to the low filament 55 of the head lamp 65 and has a branch lead Id connected to one side of the low filament 56 of the head lamp 66. A lead l5 connects the contact 3'! with the high filament 55 of the head lamp 65 and has a branch lead 75 connected to the high filament 66 of the lamp 5%. The filaments of each lamp 65 and 66 are connected together at their other ends and in turn ground by leads [6 and H.

Assuming that the switch 12 is closed and that one of the contacts 5! of the inner contact ring 59 is making contact with the contact the path of the electric current can be traced from the battery er, through the lead iii, through the fuse 69 to the lead 1!. From the lead ll the current passes through the closed switch 12 along the lead l3 and into the inner contact plate 35. As two of the contacts of the inner contact ring 50 are in engagement with the inner contact plate 34, the current will pass through the inner contact ring 50, through the third contact Ed which is in engagement with the contact 36 and into the lead 14. The current then passes through the lead "M and the branch lead M through the low filaments 65 and 66 of the head lamps 85 and 66 and through the grounded leads (5 and I1 and back to the other side of the battery 8'! through the grounded lead 68. Thus, the low filaments 85 and 65 of the head lamps E5 and 66 will be in operation.

If it is desired to have the high filaments 65 and 56 of the head lamps 65 and 663 in operation, it is necessary to step once upon the cap 24 depressing it against the action of the spring 21. This will serve, through the medium Of the operating arm 50 to advance the star wheel one tooth, as previously described. At the same time,

the inner contact ring 55 will be turned thro gh one-sixth of a revolution moving its contact 5%, which had been in contact 36 out of contact with that contact and into contact with the contact 3?. In this position, the path of the current from the battery til, through the fuse 69 and the switch 12 and into the inner contact ring 50 will be the same as before. However, with the one contact 55 in contact with the contact 3i, the current will pass from the contact ring 58 through the contact 31 and along the lead '55 and the branch lead "15 into the high filaments 55 and 56 of the head lamps and 56. From the filaments 65 and 86 the current passes through the grounded lead Hi and H and back to the battery 6? through the grounded lead 68. Thus, by successively depressing the cap 24, it is possible to alternately illuminate the high filaments 555 and 65 and the low filaments 65 and 65 of the head lamps 65 and 66 as may be desired. During this time, the outer contact ring 5| will be turning with the inner contact ring 50, but the contacts 5P will be merely idling over the outer contact plate 35 and the contacts 36 and 3'1 as no current will be supplied to the outer contact plate 35, as will become clear as this specification proceeds.

An auxiliary circuit is provided which is controlled by a solenoid F8 for permitting at least one of the filaments of each of the head lamps 55 and 66 to be illuminated in the event the fuse B9 is blown and until such time as the cause for blowing the fuse can be remedied and the blown fuse replaced by a new fuse. In the event the fuse cannot be replaced and the cause for blowing the fuse can not be fixed on the spot, the driver of the motor vehicle will be able to drive to the nearest service station by the light supplied from the filaments which are illuminated by the auxiliary circuit.

As shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the solenoid 18 is fixedly mounted on one arm of an L-shaped bracket which has its other arm securely at tached to the side of the casing 28 by soldering, welding, brazing or in any other known manner.

A lever 88 has one end pivotally mounted on a vertical pin 8| fixed between the arms of a U-shaped bracket 82. The bracket 82 is attached to the bottom face of the plate 20 by means of screws 83. A spring 84 is coaxially wound upon the top portion of the pin 8! and operates between the U-shaped bracket 82 and the lever urging the lever 80 into a position in which its free end will be spaced from the adjacent end of thesolenoids l8 and against a stop member 85 which depends from the plate 20. When the solenoid i8 is energized, the lever 80 will be pivoted against the action of the spring 84 away from the stop member 85 and toward the solenoid T8.

The top edge of the lever 80 is formed with an inward extended flange 85, see Figs. 1, 6 and '7, which is positioned to engage beneath the right angularly bent end 26 of the rod 25, when the lever is pivoted by the solenoid 18 to the position shown in Fig. 6, to retain the cap 24 and the rod 25 against being depressed. This is the other purpose for the right angularly bent end 26 which was previously referred to.

Mounted upon the side of the casing 28, opposite the side upon which the L-sha-ped bracket '12 is mounted, there is a normally open switch 81. The normally open switch 87 is comprised of a rigid contact 88 and a flexible contact 89. The contacts 88 and 39 are spaced from each other and from the side of the casing 28 by suitable strips of insulation material 90. The contacts 88 and 89 and the strips of insulation material 9c are secured together as a unit upon the side of the casing 28 by means of screws .9l

which pass through enlarged holes in the contacts 88 and 89, as is generally known'in the art, for mountin them in position without short circuiting them. The ends of the contacts 88 and 89 are positioned adjacent the inside face of the lever 88 to be closed by that lever when flexed against the action of the spring 84 by. the solenoid E8. The inside face of the lever 80 carries an insulation block 92 which is arranged to bear against the flexible contact 89 and flex it to make contact with the rigid contact 88 when the lever 28 is pivoted. The other ends 88 and 89 of the contacts 38 and 89 are projected from the rear of the switching apparatus to have the necessary electric leads connected thereto.

As shown in Fig. 10, the solenoid E8 is connected across the fuse 69 by a pair of leads 93 and 94 which have their ends connected to th leads l0 and H on opposite sides of the fuse 59. Vfhen the fuse 69 is in operation anddue to'the fact that. it has practically no resistance to the flow of current, all of the electric current will flow through the fuse 69 with practically no flow of current in the solenoid 38, so long as the fuse is not blown.

A lead 95 extends from the lead 93 and is con- 'nected to the flexible contact 89 of the normally open switch 81.

current from the battery 61 will pass through the lead 19, along the lead 93, through the solenoid '18, along the lead 9 into the lead l I, through the closed switch 12, through the lead it, from the lead 13', into the inner contact plate 3 through the contact ring 53, into the contact 35 and then into the lead 14. At the point where the lead "M is shorted, by being grounded, the current will pass into the ground and back to the battery El through the grounded lead 68. This will be one complete circuit which will energize the solenoid l8 and shunt the low filaments 65 and 55 of the head lamps 65 and 55 which will be out of operation.

Immediately as the solenoid i8 is energized, it will act to pivot the lever 85! against the action of the spring 84 and close the normally open switch 81. When the switch 8'5 is closed a second circuit from the battery 67 is completed along the leads 10, 93 and 95 to the flexible contact 39. As the flexible contact 89 is now in contact with the rigid contact '88, the current will continue through the rigid contact 88, along the lead 95 and into the outer contact plate 35. From the outer contact plate 35 the current will pass into the outer contact ring then through its contact 5| into the contact 3?. From the contact 31, the current will pass through the lead 75 and the branch lead I5 into the high filament 65 and 66 of the head lamps E5 and 56. From the high filaments [55 and te the current will pass into the grounded leads l6 and ll and then back to the battery 61 through the grounded lead 58. Thus, the high filaments 65 and 65 will be illuminated.

When the lever 89 was pivoted by the energization of the solenoid H3, its flange 86 was immediately positioned beneath the right angularly bent end 26 of the rod retaining the rod 25 and the cap 24 against being depressed to advance the star wheel 55 the usual one tooth. During the time that the circuit is shorted, it is not desired to rotate the outer contact ring 5! as that would only bring the outer contact ring 5! into contact with the contact 36 connecting the solenoid circuit into the shorted circuit extinguishing all of the lights. It will be understood that when the fuse 69 is replaced, the lever 89 will be freed to be returned to its starting position against the stop member 85 by the spring 84. Immediately, the normally open switch 87 will resume its open position and the flange 86 will move clear of the right angularly bent end 25 freeing the cap 24 and the rod 25 to be depressed.

On the other hand, if the blowin of the fuse 69 is caused by a temporary difiiculty, such as a temporary surge of electric current, circuits would be completed through both the high and the low filaments, in which case the flange 86 will be engaged beneath the right angularly bent end 25 serving as a notice to the operator of the vehicle that the fuse has blown and should be replaced to re-achieve normal operation of the head lamps. A blowing of the fuse 69 by such temporary difliculties would leave the contact rings 59 and ill free to be rotated by successive depressions of the cap 24, if it were not for the flange 85, but all of the filaments of the lamps would be in continuous operation notwithstanding the operation of the switching apparatus.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as de-- fined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. Switching apparatus for use in the headlight circuit of an automotive vehicle having a fuse connected in series in the circuit, comprising a normally 'deenergizcd solenoid, leads connecting said solenoid across the fuse to be energized when the fuse is blown, a pivetally mounted lever positioned to be pivoted when said solenoid is energized, a normally open switch positioned to be closed by said lever when pivoted, and a manually operative switching apparatus having a set position connected with either the high or low beam filaments of the head lamps of the leadlight circuit.

2; Switching apparatus for use in the headlight circuit of an automotive vehicle having a fuse connected in series in the circuit, comprising a normally deene'rgized solenoid, leads connecting said solenoid across the fuse to be energized when the fuse is blown, a pivotally mounted lever positioned to be pivoted when said solenoid is energized, a normally open switch positioned to be closed by said lever when pivoted, and a manually operative switching apparatus having a sat position connected with either the high or low beam filaments of the head lamps of the headlight circuit, said manually operative switching apparatus including manually operative means for changing the setting of said switching apparatus.

3. Switching apparatus for use in the headlight circuit of an automotive vehicle having a fuse connected in series in the circuit, comprising a normally deencrgized solenoid, leads connecting said solenoid across the fuse to be energized when the fuse is blown, a pivotally mounted lever positioned to be pivoted when said sol.noid is energized, a normally open switch positioned to be closed by said lever when pivoted, and a manually operative switching apparatus having a set position connected with either the high or low beam filaments of the head lamps of the headlight circuit, said manually operative switching apparatus including manually operative means for'changing the setting of said switching apparatus, and means carried by said lever for rendering said manually operative means inoperative for changing the setting of said switching apparatus when said lover is pivoted by said solenoid.

4. Switching apparatus for use in the headlight circuit of an automotive vehicle having a fuse connected in series in the circuit, comprising a normally deensrgized solenoid, leads connecting said solenoid across the fuse to be energized when the fuse is blown, a pivotally mounted lever positioned to be pivoted when said solenoid is energized, a normally open switch positioned to be closed by said lever when pivoted, and a manually operative switching apparatus having a set position connected with either the high or low beam filaments of the head lamps of the headlight circuit, said manually operative switching apparatus including manually operativ means for changing the setting of said switching apparatus, means carried by said lever for rendering said manually operative means inoperative for changing the setting of said switching apparatus when said lever is pivoted by said solenoid, and resilient means retaining said lever in a position pivoted away from said solenoid when said solenoid is not energized.

5. Switching apparatus for use in a headlight circuit of an automotive vehicle having a fuse connected in series in the circuit, comprising a normally deenergized solenoid, leads connecting said solenoid across the fuse to be energized when the fuse is blown, a pivotally mounted lever positioned to be pivoted when said solenoid is energized, a normally open switch positioned to be closed by said lever when pivoted, and a manually operative switching apparatus having a set position connected with either the high or low beam filaments of the head lamps of the headlight circuit, said manually. operative switching apparatus including a pair of arcuate contact plates, a pair of simultaneously rotatable ring contacts each having contacts for contactual relation with a different one of said arcuate contact plates, a spaced pair of contacts fixedly positioned between the ends of said arcuate contact plates, each of said ring contacts having a plurality of the said contacts spaced equidistant from each other for engaging the associate arcuate contact plate while other of the contacts are in engagement with the fixed contacts.

6. Switching apparatus for use in a headlight circuit of an automotive vehicle having a fuse connected in series in the circuit, comprising a normally deenergized solenoid, leads connecting said solenoid across the fuse to be energized when the fuse is blown, a pivotally mounted lever positioned to be pivoted when said solenoid is energized, a normally open switch positioned to be closed by said lever when pivoted, and a manually operative switching apparatus having a set position connected with either the high or low beam filaments of the head lamps of the headlight circuit, said manually operative switching apparatus including a pair of arcuate contact plates, a pair of simultaneously rotatable ring contacts each having contacts for contactual relation with a different one of said arcuate contact plates, a spaced pair of contacts fixedly positioned between the ends of said arcuate contact plates, each of said ring contacts having a plurality of the said contacts spaced equidistant from each other for engaging the associate arcuate contact plate while other of the contacts are in engagement with the fixed contacts, each of said ring contacts being formed with three of said contacts and said sets of three contacts being off-set with relation to each other so that only one contact of each set makes contact with one of the fixed contacts at any given time.

7. Switching apparatus for use in the headlight circuit of an automotive vehicle having a fuse connected in series in the circuit. comprising a normally deenergized solenoid, leads connecting said solenoid across the fuse to be energized when the fuse is blown, a pivotally mounted lever positioned to be pivoted when said solenoid is energized, a normally open switch positioned to be closed by said lever when pivoted, and a manually operative switching apparatus having a set position connected with either the high or low beam filaments of the head lamps of the headlight circuit, said manually operative switching apparatus including a pair of arcuate contact plates, a pair of simultaneously rotatable ring contacts each having contacts for contactual relation with a diiferent one of said arcuate contact plates, a spaced pair of contacts fixedly positioned between the ends of said arcuate contact plates, each of said ring contacts having a plurality of the said contacts spaced equidistant from each other for engaging the associate arcuate contact plate while other of the contacts are in engagement with the fixed contacts, each of said ring contacts being formed with three of said contacts and said sets of three contacts being off-set with relation to each other so that only one contact of each set makes contact with one of the fixed contacts at any given time, when the first-named circuit is in operation said contact rings being rotatable so that the contacts thereof will be brought successively into engagement with said fixed contacts to successively illuminate the high and low filaments due to the fact that each of the fixed contacts is connected with either the high or the low filaments 8. Switching apparatus for use in the headlight circuit of an automotive vehicle having a fuse connected in series in the circuit, comprising a normally deenergized solenoid, leads connecting said solenoid across the fuse to be energized when the fuse is blown, a pivotally mounted lever positioned to be pivoted when said solenoid is energized, a normally open switch positioned to be closed by said lever when pivoted, and a manually operative switching apparatus having a set position connected with either the high or low beam filaments of the head lamps of the headlight circuit, said manually operative switching apparatus including a pair of arcuate contact plates, a pair of simultaneously rotatable ring contacts each having contacts Ior contactual relation with a dlrlerent one of said arcuate contact plates, a spaced pair of contacts fixedly positioned between the enos of said arcuate contact plates, each of said ring contacts having a plurallty oi the said contacts spaced equidistant from each other ior engaging the associate arcuate contact plate while other of the contacts are in engagement with the fixed contacts, one of the arcuate contact plates bemg formed With ratchet teeth engaged by the contacts of the respective contact ring 101 limiting rotation of said contact rings relative to said arcuate contact plates to one direction only.

CHARLES MOSO-VSKY.

JOSltr'l-I MOSO-VSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,414,932 Crockett Jan. 28, 1947 2,427,076 Tabacchi Sept. 9, 1947 

